This summer, retired tour caddy Sean Russell has enjoyed seeing the best up close and remembering the best bits of life on tour
I had a couple of instances when my former life as a tour caddy flashed before my eyes this summer.
The first one came while I was doing a week’s work for European Tour Productions at The Open at Royal Troon.
This mainly involved standing next to the caddies and players on the fairways with a microphone to capture the stuff you hear on TV – discussing the shot, the sound of the club hitting the ball, and occasionally the recriminations afterwards.
I managed to get a great bit of content from my fellow columnist Chris Simmons and his player, Matt Jordan, on the 12th hole as the rain lashed down on Saturday afternoon. Never mind all the little things like making sure the grips, and Matty, stayed as dry as possible – Chris did what all the best caddies do and kept what he said simple, clear and concise. In this case it was: “146 front, 167 hole; wind in, 11 o’clock; playing 192 hole; pin five left so we need to stay right of this one; middle of the green is good, leaves an uphill putt.” There was no room for doubt and Chris made is really easy to see and commit to the shot.
Ok, the ball might have finished 2ft left of the hole leaving a tap-in rather than on its intended line, but it proved an easy birdie and Chris did his part of the job exactly as you’d want it to be done.
Second, a copy of The Secret Tour Caddy dropped through my letterbox – sent by the man himself according to the signature inside.
I’ve read it cover to cover – admittedly just to check there was no mention of me, which thankfully there wasn’t. Reading it reminded me of how much is involved in solving the puzzle of what shot to hit – which I liked; the crushing feeling when you pull a wrong club – which I really didn’t like; and the endless travelling and being away from home – which I really, really didn’t like.
It made me laugh out loud remembering some of the funny things that happen on tour, and it made me pinch myself when I remembered that it was once completely normal to be around some of the best players on the planet every day, and even consider some of them friends – something I still struggle to get my head around.
If you’re really interested in learning more about what caddies do out there, get hold of a copy of The Secret Tour Caddy.
As one review said: “It gives you the answers to questions about being a tour caddy that you never knew you needed to ask.”
These flashbacks were well-timed as I’ve since gone back on the tools, albeit temporarily, with Newcastle-based Jess Baker as she prepares for LET Qualifying School later this year, but more on that next time.
